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Victor A. Grahn
COLOMA - Victor A. Grahn, 90, of Coloma died Aug. 24, 2009, at home.
Services will be held 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Coloma with Pastor Thomas Schuetze officiating. Burial with military rites will follow in Coloma Cemetery. Visitation will be today from 5 to 8 p.m. at Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home in Coloma. Donations in Victor's memory may be made to the church, Watervliet EAA Chapter 585, or to the North Berrien Historical Society. Those wishing to sign the online guestbook or leave a message of comfort for the family may do so at www.duffieldpastrick.com.
Victor was born July 10, 1919, in Coloma, to Andrew and Alma (Johanson) Grahn. He was a World War II veteran, serving in the Army and Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1947. After his discharge with honors from the service, he worked at Ross Field Airport before beginning his career as a pilot with American Airlines. With 28 years of service behind him, Victor retired in 1979.
In addition to being a long-standing member of Faith Lutheran Church, he was a member of the Air Force Association. After his retirement, Victor enjoyed taking care of the family farm.
Survivors include five children, Marvin L. (Chris Hauke) Grahn of Williamsburg, Mich., Annette (Wayne) Maze of Coloma, Suzanne (Daniel Schulman) Grahn of Ypsilanti, Irene (James) Fortune of Loveland, Colo., and Victor Grahn Jr. of Nunica, Mich. Also surviving are three grandchildren, Tim (Christina) Riley of Portage, Jennifer Riley of Kalamazoo and Alexis Everson of Kalamazoo; cousin, Ralph (MariLou) Johnson; and nephews, Edwin and Don (Claire) Wooley.
Victor was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian (Freier) Grahn; sister, Ruth Grahn Wooley; and brother, Bernhard "Swede" Grahn.
Ruth G. Chesher
BENTON HARBOR - On Aug. 24, 2009, Ruth G. Chesher passed away in Sun City West, Ariz.
She was born on April 5, 1929, to Fred and Millie Freier in Coloma. In August 1948 she married Howard (Don) Chesher at Saron Lutheran Church in St. Joseph. Together they had three children.
She leaves behind, her husband of 61 years, Don; son, Jeff of Chandler, Ariz.; daughter, Nancy O'Weger and husband John of Newbury Park, Calif.; son, Tim and wife Michele of Gilbert, Ariz.; grandsons Timmy and Scott Chesher of Gilbert; grandson, J.D. O'Weger and wife Meghann of Sicily, Italy; granddaughter, Roxanne O'Weger of Newbury Park; and newborn great-grandson, Jack O'Weger of Sicily, Italy.
She is survived by sisters Vera Freier and Susie Turner; and brothers Art, Elmer and Gene Freier.
Ruth was preceded in passing by her parents; sister, Lily Grahn; and brothers Irving and Harold Freier.
She will always be thought of as a gentle and kind woman whose smile warmed your heart. She is missed dearly by all who knew her.
Rosie Lee Mitchell
BENTON HARBOR - The sunrise of life for Mrs. Rosie Lee Mitchell began on Oct. 19, 1932, in Union City, Tenn., as the seventh of 10 children to the late Eshel and Mary Parchman. She married Theodore Mitchell, who preceded her in death.
Rosie Lee was a faithful member of Greater Grace Temple for 26 years. After a total of 30 years, she retired from employment with Mercy and Lakeland hospitals.
The sunset of life for Rosie came after a brief illness in the early morning hour of Aug. 23, 2009, at Lakeland Hospital.
She leaves to cherish her memory four children, Jacqueline Ann White of Desert Hot Springs, Calif., Kathleen Mitchell of Benton Harbor, Donna Jean Miller of Chesapeake, Va., Theodore Isley Mitchell Jr. of Fayetteville, N.C.; her brother, Willard Parchman of South Bend, Ind.; 13 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Services Friday at Greater Grace, visitation 10 a.m. and service at 11 a.m. Family Funeral Home will be in charge of service.
Maxie Laverne Raines
ST. JOSEPH - Maxie Laverne Raines, 95, of St. Joseph died Aug. 23, 2009, at The Willows. She was born April 25, 1914, in Trezevant, Tenn., to Luella (Hampton) and Will Cunningham. She was married to Robert H. Raines, who preceded her in death.
Maxie loved to sew, garden, crochet and study her Bible. When given the opportunity, she loved to spend the day going to garage sales. She was an awesome cook, and most of all, she loved cooking for and enjoying time with her family. Her employment included Michigan Fruit Canners, Auto Specialties, Dynac Corporation and Mrs. Edward Brown as well as long-term child care services.
She is survived by her two children, Riley (Rosemary) Raines and Hilda (Steve) Banyon, both of St. Joseph; grandchildren - Karen (Will) Smith, Bob (Karen) Raines, Scott (Nikki) Raines, Corey (Debbie) Mann and Rebecca Raines; 10 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Maxie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her son, Joe Raines, three sisters and one brother.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home of St. Joseph. Burial will take place immediately following the service in North Shore Memory Gardens. Visitation is on Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home, 4025 Health Park, St. Joseph, MI 49085.
Hazel Lipscomb nee Kruger
NEW BUFFALO - Hazel Freida Emma Lipscomb nee Kruger, 92, lifelong resident and local farmer of New Buffalo, passed from this life on Sept. 16, 2009, at her home.
Hazel was the adored daughter of the late Alvin J. and Bertha F. Kruger nee Stromer; beloved wife of the late Leslie "Tiny, " loving mother of Linda Lee (Quentin) Lowe, Bonnie Jean (Robert) Kliss and Susy Leslie Lipscomb-Vergot (Carl Lindblad); cherished grandmother of Kimberly (Dean) Edmiston, Kelly (Tom) Griffith, Becky (Kevin) Hargis and Jeff Kliss (Kelle Kysiak); devoted great-grandmother of Kelly (Craig) Radley, Courtney Kliss, Conner Kliss, Kimberly Griffith, dear step-grandmother of Taylor Hargis; special adopted grandmother of Da-Eun Kim; and dearest sister of Emma (Edward) Fitzgerald, Bertha (the late Harold) Teddy and the late Blanche (the late Henry) Hasse.
The farming season and family gatherings were the highlights of Hazel's life. She looked forward to them with great enthusiasm and never tired of endless hours of canning and farming God's bounty of fruits and vegetables. Enjoyment of life included waltzing, polka dancing and making the special homemade wine.
Visitation is from 3 to 8 p.m. today, Sept. 18, at Sommerfeld Smith Family Funeral Home, 15 N. Barton, New Buffalo. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the family home, 19200 Rose City Road, New Buffalo. Interment will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, New Buffalo.
Jane Lois Nesius
LAKESIDE - Jane Lois Nesius, 93, of Lakeside died Monday morning, Sept. 14, 2009.
Jane was born Oct. 14, 1915, in Chicago to Carl and Gerda (Carlson) Bihl. After graduating from high school she attended business school. Jane worked as an accountant at Montgomery Wards, advancing to the position of assistant to the head of accounting. On Feb. 7, 1942, she married Atwood Erlinder in Chicago. Later, she assisted in the family business at Erlinder Manufacturing. They bought their home in Lakeside in 1956. Jane and Atwood were married for more than 30 years when he preceded her in death on Oct. 27, 1972. On Sept. 27, 1975, she married Elmer Nesius at St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Three Oaks. Elmer preceded her in death after 27 years of marriage on Sept. 29, 2002.
Survivors include her loving sons, C. Peter Erlinder and wife Masako Usui of St. Paul, Minn., and Scott David Erlinder and wife Ginger of Chicago; stepchildren, Robert Nesius and wife Mary of Califon, N.J., and Kitty Beletic of Dallas; and grandchildren, Sarah Erlinder, Elizabeth Nesius, Catherine Nesius, Brian Beletic and Allison Beletic.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Louise Grace Bihl, and beloved friends, William and Clara Leibfritz.
Visitation will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. today, Sept. 18, and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept.19, at Pobocik Funeral Home, Three Oaks. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Jane's memory to your favorite charity.
Valerie 'Val' F. Foster
SOUTH HAVEN - Valerie "Val" F. Foster, 66, of South Haven died Tuesday, Sept.15, 2009, at home.
She was born July 20, 1943, in South Haven to Walter Ernest and Dorothy Violet (Gaylord) Lahndorf. Val graduated from South Haven High School in 1962. She married G. Richard Foster on May 18, 1974. Val worked at the Downtown Discount Store, Bernstein Candy Company and for St. Joseph Savings Bank for several years. She also had her own businesses, Baskets by Val and Val's Cleaning. Val was a member of Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Haven.
She was preceded in death by her father, Walter Ernest Lahndorf, and her stepfather, Hipolito Vazquez.
She is survived by her husband, G. Richard Foster of South Haven; her son, Charles D. (Sherry) Bodfish of Lacota; daughter, Cindy L. (Chris) Danelz of Brentwood, Tenn.; four stepchildren, David J. (Debbie) Foster of Wixom, Mich., Karen L. (Ray Holly) Foster of Denver, Rick A. (Elissa) Foster of LaPorte, Texas, and Daniel S. (Lisa) Foster of Grand Haven, Mich.; her mother, Dorothy Violet Vazquez of South Haven; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Millicent Covey of South Haven and Sharon (Jim) Duis of Paw Paw.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, at Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Robert Linstrom officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to South Haven Hospice at Home the American Cancer Society or St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Kindly share your thoughts and memories on the family's online guestbook at www.FilbrandtFFH.com. The family is being helped by the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home of South Haven.
